Match-box.



No. 744,561. v PATENTED. NOV. 17, 1903.

' M. V. KEELEY.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES i atented November 17, 1903.

MELVIE V. KEELEY, OF ROANOKE, TEXAS.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFIOATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,561, dated November 1'7, 1903. Application filed January 31, 1903. SerialNo. 141,281. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIE V. KERLEY, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at B- 4 anoke, in the county of Denton and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match-boxes, the object of the invention being to provide what mightbe termeda magazine match-box, in connection with which means. are employed for ejecting or pushing outward the matches, one at a time, in position to be easily and readily grasped and removed without disturbing the matches remaining in the box.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a match box of such form that the matches will be directed by gravity, so that onlyone match at a time will be presented to that portion of the box in which the ejector is placed, thus rendering the action of the ejector certain and reliable, it being impossible to eject more than a--single match at a time. The ejector is spring-retracted, so that it automatically restores itself to the initial position in readiness to eject a match whenever it is operated by the user.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

7 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a match-box constructed in accordance with the present invention- Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the same, showing the ejector, returningspring, 850. Fig. 3 is an end view of the match-box, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the same looking downward and showing the foot of the ejector.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, it will be seen that the box is wedge-shaped in cross-section, one side of the box being materially reduced or brought almost to a point, as shown at 1, so that only one match at atime can get access to that portion of the box, which portion is directly in line with the reciprocatory foot of the ejector or pusher, hereinafter particularly described. The opposite side of the box is comparatively wide and made fiat or rounded and is provided at a suitable point with a match receiving or filling opening 2, which is normally closed by means of a slide 3, provided at opposite edges with bookshaped lips or flanges 4, which engage small ribs or projections on the body of the box,

the arrangement permittingthe slide to be moved lengthwise for the purpose of inserting matches in the box, while at the same time preventing the slide from becoming acadjacent portion of the box, while the end piece 7 is made somewhat "smaller, having the pointed end thereof cut away, as shown at 9, and provided'with bristles 10, which fill and close the space formed by cutting away the end piece 7 at point 9. The bristles 10 prevent the matches from dropping out of the box, but yield apart to permit the matches to be forced outward, one at a time, by the ejector.

Along the narrow side of the box there extends an ejector or pusher rod 11, bent or'offset at a point intermediate its ends to form afinger-piece 12, by means of which said ejector may be moved lengthwise. At one end the ejector 11 is provided with an enlargement or head 13, which moves lengthwise within a cylindrical sleeve or casing 14, attached to the narrow side of the box, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A coil-spring 15 is mounted in the sleeve 14 between the head 13 of the ejector and the farther end of the sleeve, said spring exerting its tension to force the ejector to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, which is the normal position of the ejector. At its opposite end the. ejector is provided with an extension or foot 16, theinner surface of which may be roughened, as shown, if desired, in order to obtain a better hold on the end of the match. The foot 16 is received in a recess 17 in the end piece 6,

' lengthwise of the box when the ejector-rod is correspondingly moved.

In operation the box is held with the narrow side downward, thereby causing one of the matches to assume a position directly in the line with the foot or extension 16. The finger-piece 12 is then pushed toward the spring, the result being that the match engaged by the foot is forced outward through or between the bristles 10, where it may be grasped between the fingers and removed. As soon as the ejector is released it flies back to its normal position by reason of the pressure of the spring 15..

The match-box hereinabove described is simple and cheap in construction, compact in size, and may be carried in the vest'pocket. The matches are ejected one at a time, and the ejecting mechanism is so simple that there is little liability of the same getting out of order. The box may of course be manufactured in various sizes and when made in larger sizes will be found very useful in public places-such as restaurants, cafes, and the like-the box effecting the saving in the consumption of matches by reason of the fact that only one match can be removed at a time.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A match-box, comprising a body, wedgeshaped in cross-section having a dischargeopening through one end adjacent to the reduced portion thereof, bristles extending across the discharge-opening at right angles to the length of the body and having their free ends loosely engaging the inner wall of the reduced portion of the body, a guide extending along the reduced portion of the body, and a spring-actuated ejector mounted in the guide for a greater portion of its length to force the matches, one at a time, outwardly between the bristles, the greater part of said ejector being on the exterior of the body and having one terminal movably projecting into the body.

2. A match-box, comprising a body wedgeshaped in cross-section and having a discharge-opening through one end adjacent to the reduced portion of the body, bristles extending over and normally covering the discharge-opening, a tubular guide extending longitudinally of a portion of the reduced part of the body and having a spring therein, and an ejector having one end in the guide and bearing against the spring and the opposite end projected within the body and movable longitudinally of the latter.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MELVIE V. KEELEY.

Witnesses:

F. G. RAY, W. G. PIoKETT. 

